Lesson 1: Introduction

This lesson will set the tone for the start-up like atmosphere that will be created in class. Students will get excited to be part of this new and innovative entrepreneurial classroom and teaching format.

Required Outcomes

Students will present themselves, understand the different entrepreneurial characteristics that are useful to have on a team.

Students will have the opportunity to meet each other, do some team building activities and then be formed into teams to work in for the remainder of the year.

Students will be introduce and learn the technology and support system that will be used to manage class and the materials they will produce.

Students will create logins and passwords and begin creating files in their schools platform.

Students will be introduced to the names of the key tools used in the Lean process for developing business ideas. (Business Model Canvas, Cycle of Experimentation, Minimum Viable Product)

Entrepreneurs Can Change the World

Watch the video below with your table group. Identify which words or phrases most stand out most to you and be prepared to share with the whole class.

Entrepreneurial DNA

Recent research into what makes startup companies successful or not has revealed that certain founders share certain predispositions. Watch the video below to learn about the four different “hard wirings” that exist amongst entrepreneurs. Then complete the 10 question quiz at the following link to learn about your own entrepreneurial DNA:

Pitch Yourself

Now that you know a little bit more about yourself as an entrepreneur, prepare a 30-60 second pitch about yourself. Your goal is to share with your classmates why you would make for an exceptional business partner. Share the following:

Team Formation

Once you’ve seen your classmates pitch, it’s time to make teammate requests. Please understand that requests are only one consideration that will be made when teams are formed. The more consideration you provide as to why you think a certain classmate would make a good teammate, the more likely you are to end up with that teammate.

Egg Drop Challenge

Using only the supplies in the list below, build a contraption to protect an egg from an 8 foot drop. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t as we’ll implement a build, measure, learn feedback loop in this challenge

Bug Me/Forces at Play

Prior to September 7th, you need to complete the worksheet below (available here).

Consider the things that bug you throughout your day, and identify major trends that exist at a local, regional, and global level. Jot them down on this sheet to help you structure your brainstorming of business ideas later on (refer to slide 13 above for examples).